In the next 20 years, China will need another 7,576 passenger aircraft. This is stated in the latest report released by the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC).
These include 1,598 wide-body aircraft, 5,080 narrow-body aircraft and 898 regional aircraft, the report says.
Chinese civil aviation handled 660 million passengers and 7.53 million tonnes of air cargo in 2019, according to AVIC, up 7.9% and 2%, respectively, year on year.
By the end of 2019, China's civil aviation fleet numbered 3,818 aircraft, including 3,645 passenger aircraft and 173 cargo aircraft.
The report predicts that domestic flights will dominate China's air passenger market by 2024.
Given China's success in the fight against COVID-19, the country's air transport industry is expected to recover faster than other major overseas markets. According to the report, the average annual growth rate of passenger turnover in China from 2020 to 2039 is projected at 5.3%.
